Laguna wins opener in girls’ water polo

The Laguna Beach High’s girls’ water polo team launched its 2003-04

season with a resounding victory Tuesday as it drilled visiting

Brea-Olinda, 14-3.

Laguna never trailed as it opened up a 5-0 lead after one quarter.

Addison Doud led all scorers with six goals with teammate Kat

Gordon scoring three goals and Breanna Duplisea and Jessica McKee

each scoring twice.

In boys’ basketball, Laguna dropped its first two games of the

season to Irvine and Century, both on the road.

In Mark Hill’s first game as head coach, Laguna fought Irvine to

the end in a 69-63 nonleague loss.

The teams were tied at the half, 27-27, but the host Vaqueros

outscored the Breakers, 24-17, in the third period, to take control.

Freshman Cheyne Martin, in his first varsity game, led Laguna with

18 points. Spencer Willhoit scored 14 and Taylor Willhoit finished

with 11 points.

In girls’ soccer, Laguna suffered a 2-0 season-opening shutout

loss Tuesday at Ocean View.

Laguna’s boys’ soccer team, which played Magnolia and Valley

Christian earlier in the week, returns to the field today for a 6:30

p.m. home match against Aliso Viejo.

Coach Andy Thomas’ has 11 returning varsity players from last

year’s team.

“Overall, we have a young but very skillful team, with a backbone

of experienced seniors,” Thomas said. “The team has potential to make

the playoffs in a touch CIF Division II league.”

Here is Thomas’ brief overview of each of his players:

Returners

Taylor King: “Team captain who plays sweeper and is one of the

best defenders in the Pacific Coast League.”

Leonardo Albarran: “A starting defender and great player.”

Juan Luna: “Starting defender or midfielder; a great athlete.”

Joey LeBon: “Starting right halfback. One of the most improved

players on the squad.”

Derek LeBon: “A starting forward who is a great goal scorer.”

Brendan Hexberg: “A starting left-midfielder who played varsity

last year as a freshman. Very talented.”

Stuart Thompson: “A defender/midfield player who started last year

as a freshman.”

Zach Tischio: “A right-midfielder who will push to start. Great

attitude and work ethic.”

Dieter Schmidt: “A starting central midfield player who never

stops working.”

Pablo Hernandez: “Our starting attacking midfield player. He’s a

fourth-year varsity player who has Division I colleges looking at

him. He has potential to be the league MVP. A very creative player.”

Brennan Alvarado: “A senior who is a tenacious defender who played

a lot last year.”

New Players

Trey Phillips: “A senior who always pops up at the right place at

the right time.”

John Wagner: “A senior who is a hard-working defensive midfield

player.”

Nahum Salgado: “A freshman who is a very talented young player.”

Jesus Rojas: “He is just coming back from injury and will be a

major contributor when fit.”

Diego Valdivia: “A junior and starting goalkeeper. He has made an

impressive start to the season.”

2003-04 Home Schedule

Today: Aliso Niguel, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 11: St. Margaret’s, 5 p.m.

Dec. 15: Irvine, 4:45 p.m.

Dec. 17: Sage Hill, 4 p.m.

Jan. 9: Corona del Mar, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 14: Northwood, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 23: University, 6:15 p.m.

Feb. 4: Calvary Chapel, 4:45 p.m.

Feb. 6: Tesoro, 6:15 p.m.